Gianluigi Buffon is readying himself for a “heartbreaking” farewell at Juventus, with a cruel Champions League exit edging him closer to retirement.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper has been keeping his options open throughout the 2017-18 season, having previously suggested that the current campaign would be his last.
He has come out of international retirement to rejoin the Italy fold and hinted that he could prolong an iconic career.
A frustrating European evening in Spain against Real Madrid has, however, appeared to nudge Buffon back towards the hanging up of his gloves.
A modern day legend saw his continental dreams dashed again on Wednesday, with a dramatic climax at Santiago Bernabeu seeing Cristiano Ronaldo fire Real through to the semi-finals.